Avicii, SOS | Track Review

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Avicii lives on through the music on his short, but sweet posthumous promo single, “SOS,” featuring frequent collaborator Aloe Blacc.

Unfortunately, Aviici (Tim Bergling) became a member of the ‘gone far too soon club’ in 2018, dying at just 28 years old.  Sigh, sadly and surprisingly, the talented Swedish musician/DJ committed suicide on April 20, 2018 in Muscat, Oman.  Despite the fact that Bergling is no longer with us, his music lives on, including a forthcoming, posthumous studio album, Tim.  Listeners get the first sampling of Tim with the release of single “SOS,” featuring a frequent collaborator, Aloe Blacc (“Wake Me Up” most notably). 

“SOS” is brief (just north of two-and-a-half minutes long) but satisfying.  The production is clean, clear, and quite crisp.  As always, the synths are absolutely scrumptious, while rhythm is a defining characteristic.  Basically, what I’m saying is, Aloe Blacc has a sick backdrop to paint with his soulful pipes. Paint he does, giving a pleasant, tasteful, and never over-sung or over-indulgent performance.  The crème de la crème is the chorus (and the drop of course), where both Avicii and Aloe Blacc are at their best.

“I can feel your love pullin’ me up from the underground, and
I don’t need my drugs, we could be more than just part-time lovers
I can feel your touch pickin’ me up from the underground, and
I don’t need my drugs, we could be more than just part-time lovers.”

Final Thoughts 

All in all, posthumous Avicii is definitely bittersweet.  The music is brilliant, and of course it is fitting that Aloe Blacc collaborates once more.  But it is still so incredibly sad that this talented, young musician is dead.  Nonetheless, the music and the spirit live on, something that shines like a beacon throughout the course of “SOS.”

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Avicii • SOS (Ft. Aloe Blacc) [Single] • Universal Music • Release: 4.10.19

Photo Credit: Universal Music